Chappell Roan, the “Hot to Go” singer and last year’s Best New Artist, made headlines once more at the 2026 Grammy Awards with a daring red carpet look that turned heads. Returning for her second-ever Grammy appearance, Roan arrived in a show-stopping custom sheer Mugler gown featuring maroon fabric suspended from faux nipples and rings—a nod to the 1998 “Jeu de Paume” couture collection by Manfred Thierry Mugler, reimagined by Miguel Castro Freitas for 2026.
Her look, paired with a flowing train, black undergarments, and a matching cape for interviews, balanced spectacle with subtlety, as she strategically draped her long red hair for a slightly more modest angle.
This year, Roan earned two Grammy nominations for her hit single “The Subway”, in the categories of Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance. Fellow nominees include Sabrina Carpenter, who Roan famously beat for Best New Artist in 2025. While Roan didn’t perform at the ceremony, she was scheduled to present an award.
Beyond music, Roan continues to use her platform for social impact. Just days before the Grammys, she was honored at the 2026 Resonator Awards by the nonprofit We Are Moving the Needle, receiving the Harmonizer Award for leveraging her music to advance social change. During the event, she emphasized the importance of giving back: “I kind of think that it’s just an artist’s—and anybody who has money—duty to give it away. I don’t really know what else there is to harmony other than giving.”
Roan has remained outspoken on social justice issues since her career began, challenging music labels to provide fair wages and healthcare for artists—a message she delivered during her Best New Artist acceptance speech at the 2025 Grammys. That night, she famously changed through multiple couture looks, including a 22-year-old Jean Paul Gaultier gown, a 2024 Thom Browne creation, and a custom Zana Bayne outfit for her performance of “Pink Pony Club.”
With her fearless fashion choices, vocal advocacy, and musical talent, Chappell Roan continues to make an indelible mark on both the Grammys and the wider music industry, proving that she’s as bold in style as she is in purpose.
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